Written comments on the proposed development of Post-2026 Colorado River Operational Strategies are due on or before September 1, 2022, per a notice published in the Federal Register.

Arizona Public Radio notes that “several key pieces of the rules that govern the Colorado River Basin are set to expire in 2026, including guidelines for dealing with drought and water shortage.”  Members of the public are encouraged to participate.

The summary published in the Register states:

The Secretary of the Interior has directed the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to begin work to develop operating strategies for the continued coordinated operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. A number of reservoir and water management decisional documents and agreements that govern operation of Colorado River facilities and management of Colorado River water are currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. These include the December 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2007 Interim Guidelines), among other important management documents, both within the United States, as well as international agreements between the United States and Mexico pursuant to the United States-Mexico Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (1944 Water Treaty).

The Federal Register’s notice includes an in-depth review of the issues and information about where to send comments.

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